Ghazala Hashmi elected Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, makes history as first Muslim and South Asian American in role

New York: India-born Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has been elected as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian American to hold the post in the state’s history. Her decisive victory marks a significant milestone in American politics and representation.

Hashmi, 61, secured 1,465,634 votes (54.2%), defeating Republican candidate John Reid, who garnered 1,232,242 votes, with 79% of ballots counted. Her win was among the most closely watched in the 2025 US elections, which saw over 30 Indian-American and South Asian candidates contesting key positions nationwide.

A seasoned legislator and educator, Hashmi has served in the Virginia Senate since 2019, when she flipped a Republican-held seat and helped Democrats gain control of the chamber. In 2024, she was appointed Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, where she focused on equity in housing, education, healthcare, and environmental justice.

Her campaign platform emphasised reproductive freedom, voting rights, gun violence prevention, affordable healthcare, and public education. The Indian American Impact Fund, which invested $175,000 in her campaign, hailed her victory as a landmark moment for the community and democracy.

“An immigrant, educator and tireless advocate, she has dedicated her life to expanding opportunity and delivering results for working families across Virginia. From reproductive freedom and affordable healthcare to public education and housing equity, Ghazala Hashmi has led on the issues that matter most to Virginians,” said Chintan Patel, Executive Director of the Fund.

Born in Hyderabad, India, Hashmi emigrated to the US at age four, joining her father in Georgia, where he was pursuing a PhD. She grew up during the desegregation of public schools, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice and inclusive dialogue.

A valedictorian and scholarship recipient, Hashmi earned her BA from Georgia Southern University and a PhD in American literature from Emory University. She moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1991 with her husband, Azhar, and spent nearly three decades in academia, including as a professor and founding director of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Reynolds Community College.

Hashmi’s election as Lieutenant Governor is seen as a powerful affirmation of progressive values and the growing influence of South Asian Americans in US public life.

(Inputs from PTI)